Let The Seed of Faith Grow Within Us

Weekly Missionary Reflection
11th Ordinary Sunday, 16 June 2024
Eze. 17:22-24; Ps. 92:2-3,13-14,15-16; 2 Cor. 5:6-10; Mark 4:26-34

Today’s Gospel reading invites us to ponder the Kingdom of God. Jesus is said to be teaching with parables. The Kingdom of God is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land. The seed would sprout and grow. In this parable, we can imagine that the crowd listening to Jesus’ teaching was living in agricultural life. They could easily understand this parable as it was closely related to their lives.

Some of us might have understood this parable. The seed of the Kingdom of God that we receive from God’s word is planted within us. We need to realize this matter and let God work in us. Then we will gradually realize that our lives change and the surrounding people also realize the fruits of our deeds.

The second parable for the Kingdom of God is the mustard seed. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet it will become the largest of plants once it is sown. Our faith in Jesus Christ is like the mustard seed. We don’t need to worry or feel anxious when our faith differs from the others. Each of us has diverse experiences of faith. However, we have to realize that as long as we have faith, no matter how small it is, Jesus wants to make us realize that the faith will grow. 

Dear brothers and sisters, let us humbly pray to our Father in heaven that through the intercession of the Holy Spirit, we can feel that our faith in Jesus Christ is growing. Let us persevere in prayer and love, and let God work within us and transform our seed of faith into something big and fruitful for others. God bless.

(Br. Kornelius Glossanto, SX – Xaverian Missionary)

DAILY DEDICATED PRAYER

Lord, our Father, I present my today prayer, thought, word, work, joy, and sorrow in unity with Your Son, Jesus Christ, who always presents Himself in the Eucharist for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit animating Jesus, also be my guidance and strength today so that I am ready to be the witness of Your love.

Together with Mary, Mother of Jesus, and the Church, in particular, I present my prayer for our Pope and apostle prayer of the Indonesian Church this month:

Universal Church Intent: For migrants fleeing their homes 
We pray that migrants fleeing from war or hunger, forced to undertake journeys full of danger and violence, find welcome and new opportunities in the countries that receive them.

Indonesian Church Intent: For the young people
We pray that the churches will be more open and able to embrace the young people in the process of identity formation so that they can experience Christ as their Friend and Saviour.

Amen.